West Indies Squad for ICC World Cup 2019, No Narine, No Pollard

West Indies has announced the 15-member preliminary squad for the ICC World cup 2019 starting May 30 in England and Wales. The team could be changed till May 23 without any special permission of ICC.

Jason Holder will lead the West Indian team in the CWC 2019.

The most destructive and brutal hitters Chris Gayle and hard-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell have been named in the squad.

Gayle and Russell are currently playing in the ongoing IPL 2019.

Andry Russel last ODI appearance was on July 28, 2015, against Bangladesh but his excellent performance in the ongoing IPL convinced the selectors to name him in the final 15.

I spoke to Andre a few days ago, and he assured me that he will be okay for the World Cup. He has a few niggles. He has some pain behind his knee but he assured he’ll be okay for the World Cup,”

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, said.

He further added

He’s scored a lot of runs, and we’ll be using him as a batting all-rounder,” Floyd Reifer, Windies’ interim head coach, said of Russell. “He’s doing very well in the IPL. We have got to manage his injuries and have three to four days rest between the games.”

Chris Gayle has already announced his ODI retirement after CWC and would play his fifth and last World Cup of his magnificent career. Chris Gayle needs only 253 runs to take over Brian Lara and to become a leading run-scorer in the ODI for Caribbean side.

Gayle and Russell contribution in the batting line will make a West Indian as one of the tough contester in the World Cup 2019.

There is an abundance of big-hitting all-rounders in the squad, the leading batsman ready to kick off the show in the event are Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, and Andre Russell. Nicholas Pooran named as wicket-keeper in the squad.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo didn’t select in the squad while Sunil Narine had fitness issues and didn’t make through, instead Ashley Nurse the only spinner set to attack and will take the spin bowling responsibilities.

We had to look past Narine because of his fitness issue, but I know, definitely, he wanted to play for the West Indies side,” Haynes said.

He further added

We had a lot of dialogue with Sunil Narine. He assured that he would have loved to play in the World Cup, but unfortunately, he has an injured finger. He’s getting treatment after every game in IPL, and he’s not capable at the moment to bowl ten overs. He’s struggling to bowl even four overs in the IPL.”

Fabian Allen could be the spin bowling option in the crucial time.

Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach, and Shannon Gabriel are the leading fast bowlers in the squad.